Summer is upon us, and most of us will be making the most of the great weather. From barbecues with friends to overseas vacations, what’s not to love? To ensure your summer is every bit as amazing as you want it to be, we’ve got some top tips on staying healthy. 

• Maintain a healthy diet – It can be very easy to put on weight during the summer months, especially if you are going on vacation. The all-inclusive buffet can be far too tempting. While there is nothing wrong with treating yourself, it’s important to be conscious of what you are eating. Ditch trans fats for healthy fats and this will help you achieve good vascular health. It’s also important to reduce salt intake and incorporate more fish into your diet. Losing weight can help reduce your risk of varicose veins and spider veins. 
• Preventing illness – Unfortunately, people often catch illnesses when they are on vacation. Some illness may not be unavoidable, but many are.  To decrease your chances of contracting an illness, carry hand sanitizer with you.  You may not always be able to find soap and water when you want to wash your hands, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse can ward off unwanted viruses.  Also, if you are traveling out of the country, chech with your doctor about any immuniziations you may need for travel.  And especially when traveling out of the country, be cautious of drinking tap water.  If you are uncertain of the water quality of where you are traveling, play it safe and drink bottled water or purified water.  
• Don’t forget your sunscreen – Using sunscreen is of paramount importance. Apply the correct amount and choose SPF 30 or higher. The higher the SPF, the greater the protection. You should reapply sunscreen every two hours and don’t overlook sensitive spots, such as the back of your legs, nose, lips, and ears.
• Eat your fruits and veggies – There are a number of reasons to incorporate foods high in vitamin C into your diet during the summer. Not only do they protect the skin due to the powerful beta-carotene found in them, but they also feature citrus bioflavonoid complex, which strengths the walls of your veins. 
• Get active – There is no better time to get active than during the summer months. You don’t have to be restricted to the gym. You can enjoy the beautiful outdoors, from taking a bike ride to enjoying a walk. This is also a great natural treatment for varicose veins, as such activities prevent the development of prominent veins and strength the walls of your blood vessels. 

Remembering these tips means that no matter what your plans are for the summer, you can enjoy it without doing harm to your health – and look and feel great at the end of it!